Ecology Starts at Home

While walking one day I met Kevin Parker with a garbage bag in one hand and garbage in the other. I decided to see what he was doing. He explained that cleaning up the environment is his life’s passion. He works as a development consultant and has been in fundraising field for more than 28 years. He primarily raises funds for environmental causes.
He has worked for many clients including the World Bank, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Clean Energy Foundation. His work with these organizations has helped inspire his enthusiasm for environmental causes around the world. Yet he also remains dedicated to his neighborhood and community where weekly you’ll see him walking around picking up garbage or cultivating plant boxes. He attended Yale University though am sure much about his commitment to make his community a more livable place did not come from the university’s curriculum. He also paints out local graffiti with the philisophy that if he is going to be part of a neighborhood he “needs to do something in making it better.”
His work started with just sweeping in front of his house and then he was sweeping in front of two houses. Then he noticed litter elsewhere in the neighborhood and decided to try to address that too. A trash can was stationed at the end of the road but trash found its way into the streets anyway. He decided to just go around the community picking up garbage. He tried to get neighbors involved. Some pitched in for awhile and later stopped. He just kept on.
Some believe it is the city’s responsibility or job to beautify the neighborhood but he knows it is really up to the folks who live there.
Personally I don’t believe a degree has anything to do with how you treat your neighbors, your neighborhood, your community or the world. I believe what’s required is the sole act in being selfless which simply means: All selfish desires are removed while you pour out acts of kindness! These acts could include helping a homeless person permanently get back on his or her feet. helping an elderly neighbor with some daily chore, sending an anonymous care package to a wounded veteran, volunteering in a soup kitchen or teaching others how to care about our communities, world and our planet. The list of selfless acts could go on for eternity. No matter what selfless act of kindness you choose, the most important decision is to just start: performing random acts of kindness!!!! Everything we do in this world and beyond reflects how we feel about ourselves, others, our communities, our world and this planet.


Issues |Environment

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